Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumGlobal Warming is about to Decimate the Building Blocks of Life in the Ocean
http://www.juancole.com/2014/06/warming-decimate-building.htmlResearchers warn that marine life could be dramatically affected as climate change threatens to cause severe reduction of plankton the key source of nutrients ? in some ocean regions by the end of the century
Global Warming is about to Decimate the Building Blocks of Life in the Ocean
By contributors | Jun. 21, 2014
By Alex Kirby
LONDON, 12 May ? There are plenty more fish in the sea ? but not for too much longer in some parts of the world, researchers say. And the reason is very simple: the food on which they all depend faces a marked decline.
~snip~
Phytoplankton are the single-celled plants that are the basic building blocks of most marine life. In particular, they sustain zooplankton ? tiny animals that are eaten in turn by fish. The study found evidence that, by 2100, zooplankton biomass will be 11% less than it is today, with obvious implications for the fish that feed on them.
The report says that sea surface temperature is predicted to increase by 3.4ºF on average globally by 2080-2100. The consequences of this increase will include changes in ocean circulation and higher water column stratification, where water of different densities forms distinct layers instead of mixing, affecting the availability of nutrients.
Biomass reduction
The depletion expected in the amount of plankton in the marine food web could reduce fish biomass in 47% of the total global ocean area, especially in tropical oceans.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)there might be more cause for concern.
chervilant
(8,267 posts)the inception of our extinction event. Most poor souls remain in denial, or simply cannot accept this truth.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)was 20% oxygen, now i am told it is 18%.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)Oxygen comprises about 21% of the atmosphere. 18% is entering the region of oxygen deprivation and can result in confusion.
Delphinus
(11,847 posts)many reasons I love DU - I truly learn so much!
chervilant
(8,267 posts)I suspect that climate scientists (and others) are using phrases like "end of this century" so as NOT to panic the Sheeple. Things are dicey already, and will only get worse.
CrispyQ
(36,557 posts)that our big brain will save us. Like we're so frickin' special.
chervilant
(8,267 posts)Our collective hubris is astonishing.
pscot
(21,024 posts)The dinosaurs had a great run, with brains the size of chicklets. In less that a million years we've put ourselves neck deep in the swamp. How smart is that?
GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)Our intelligence means our brains are extremely good at that job.
For a species in overshoot on a finite planet with increasing numbers of biospheric limits entering the game, that's the very definition of an evolutionary dead end.
Probability dictates that sooner or later we are going to run into a limit we can't remove.
I think we even have a good idea of what it is now.
littlemissmartypants
(22,853 posts)snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)Benton D Struckcheon
(2,347 posts)Of course, that's about the only entertaining part of this. I tell friends to enjoy their shellfish now (I like mussels & oysters), because in a few years, they might not be able to.